Warda, Texas. (original) (raw)

Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1882
Submitted by Carolyn Heinsohn, Fayette County Historical Commission

History in a Pecan Shell

Although the area had had settlers since the days of the Republic, things didn't get started here until the arrival of Wendish immigrant A. E. Falke who bought land here in the late 1860s. Falke named the town after Wartha, Saxony, his home in the old country. Falke opened a general store and other Wends started moving in.

In 1882 Holy Cross Lutheran Church was moved from Giddings and the congregation of forty families (with 82 students enrolled in the church school) provided an "instant" population. A post office was granted in 1877.

By 1884 Warda was thriving with two gins, several sawmills to mill the abundant pine, two stores, a blacksmith, wheelwright, and even a doctor.

The church and the cemetery (just west of hwy 77) form the bulk of the town and citizens are mostly descendants of original settlers.

The town made big city news in the 1980s when residents pooled their resources to keep the last business in Warda (a restaurant) open.

Warda had a population of 161 in the mid 1980s which declined to 67 for the 1990 census. It continues to be used on the 2010 state map.

August Jurk Sawmill in Warda, 1918
Submitted by Carolyn Heinsohn, Fayette County Historical Commission

BBQ Weights
TE photo, November 2006

Bench at BBQ pits at Warda
TE photo, November 2006

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